This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
founder
1[ foun-der ]
/ ˈfaʊn dər /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
a person who founds or establishes something, as a company or institution.
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Words nearby founder
Other definitions for founder (2 of 3)
founder2
[ foun-der ]
/ ˈfaʊn dər /
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
to cause to fill with water and sink: Rough seas had foundered the ship in mid-ocean.
Veterinary Pathology. to cause (a horse) to break down, go lame, or suffer from laminitis.
noun
Veterinary Pathology. laminitis.
Origin of founder
2First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English foundren, funder, fonder, from Old French fondrer “to plunge to the bottom, submerge,” from Vulgar Latin fundorāre (unattested), derivative of fundor-, an s-stem noun interpreted as stem of Latin fundus, actually an o-stem noun (stem fund- ) “bottom”
OTHER WORDS FROM founder
un·foun·dered, adjectiveun·foun·der·ing, adjectiveOther definitions for founder (3 of 3)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use founder in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for founder (1 of 3)
founder1
/ (ˈfaʊndə) /
noun
a person who establishes an institution, company, society, etc
Word Origin for founder
C14: see found ²
British Dictionary definitions for founder (2 of 3)
Word Origin for founder
C13: from Old French fondrer to submerge, from Latin fundus bottom; see found ²
usage for founder
Founder is sometimes wrongly used where flounder is meant: this unexpected turn of events left him floundering (not foundering)
British Dictionary definitions for founder (3 of 3)
founder3
/ (ˈfaʊndə) /
noun
- a person who makes metal castings
- (in combination)an iron founder
Word Origin for founder
C15: see found ³
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012